Map of England showing where the Speak arms are recorded
The Speak arms were recorded in Steward, c. 1550.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
Edward VI of England
Sovereign of the period
Edward VI of England
1547–1553
Reigning in England when the Speak arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Speak Family in England
The surname Speak originates from Northern England, where it functioned as a descriptive nickname for a person known for their sharp tongue or their tendency to speak out. By the middle of the sixteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of York. During this period, York served as a vital center for trade and administration, and families like the Speaks often integrated into the local merchant classes or skilled trades. Because surnames were still evolving in spelling during the 1500s, the name was frequently recorded in various forms, such as Speake or Speke, depending on the phonetic interpretation of the local clerks. These early residents were part of a growing urban population that helped shape the social and economic character of Yorkshire during the Tudor era.
Speak Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Spek
Middle English word meaning to speak or discourse.
This name
SpeakAn occupational or descriptive name for a talkative person or a public speaker.
also spelled
Speke
Speack
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury and Related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers, 1550
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1550
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